ATV with fender storage compartment

ABSTRACT

An all terrain vehicle is provided with one or more wheel fenders that double as storage compartments. The fenders define a hollow volume into which a variety of desired items can be placed for storage. An access opening provides access to the hollow volume. A door can be attached to releasably close the access opening. A door can be hinged such that it is readily accessible by a driver of the ATV while seated on the ATV.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates generally to off-road vehicles and morespecifically to All Terrain Vehicles or ATVs. The invention relates morespecifically to ATVs equipped with supplemental storage compartments.

BACKGROUND

[0002] ATVs serve a variety of functions for a variety of differentpeople. An ATV typically has four wheels on two axles, although somevehicles have either five or six wheels. One or both axles can bedriven. ATVs are designed for a single driver that straddles the vehicleand do not provide room for passengers.

[0003] Many ATVs are used for professional reasons. For example, aforester may use an ATV to patrol the portion of a forest he or she isresponsible for. Farmers use ATVs for transporting and supportingirrigation and spraying equipment. Ranchers use ATVs for moving andcontrolling cattle, as well as for hauling feed for the cattle. Rescuepersonnel also use ATVs for reaching potential patients who wouldotherwise be stranded in rough terrain. ATVs can be used during the heatof summer and in the depths of a midwinter snowfall.

[0004] ATVs often are used in functional roles around the house. Inwintertime, an ATV can be equipped with a blade for plowing snow. An ATVcan be used to pull out small tree stumps. A popular option for ATVs isa dump bed that sits on the rear of the vehicle and can be used to haulbulk materials such as dirt and sand or other materials as desired.

[0005] For some, an ATV is purely a recreational vehicle that may bedriven along a beach or through the woods on a Saturday afternoon. Forothers, an ATV has a more functional role. For example, a hunter may usean ATV to reach remote portions of a hunting ground that is too rough toreach by conventional vehicle and too remote to reach on foot. The ATVcan be used to haul in supplies and gear and to haul out the day'sbounty.

[0006] No matter the intended use of an ATV, one common denominator is adesire for maximizing available storage space. To address this, some ATVmanufacturers offer a variety of supplemental storage bags asaccessories. For example, a hunter may want an add-on scabbard adaptedto hold a rifle. Rescue personnel may utilize add-on storage adapted tohold medical equipment.

[0007] These add-on storage bags often mount to the rear rack of an ATV,tying up valuable space. Thus, a need remains for an ATV having enhancedstorage capability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention involves an off-road or all terrain vehiclethat is provided with wheel fenders that double as storage compartments.The fenders define a hollow volume into which a variety of desired itemscan be placed for storage. These storage fenders can be configured andpositioned as either front or rear wheel fenders. An off-road vehiclecan be equipped with any combination of front and rear wheel storagefenders. A hinged door provides access to the hollow volume but shutstightly to keep out the elements. The hinged door is readily accessibleby a driver of the ATV while seated on the ATV.

[0009] Accordingly, the invention is found in an off-road vehicle fenderthat has front and rear panels that are configured or adapted to a wheelopening contour and are spaced apart. First and second side panels areconnected to each of the front and rear panels and the front and rearpanels and first and second side panels cooperate to form a storagecompartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an off-road or all terrainvehicle (shown in phantom) illustrating placement of a rear fender andaccess panel located in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an off-road or all terrainvehicle (shown in phantom) illustrating a rear fender having an accesspanel located in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an off-road or all terrainvehicle (shown in phantom) illustrating a front fender that has anaccess panel located in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an off-road or all terrainvehicle (shown in phantom) illustrating a front fender that has anaccess panel located in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present invention involves an off-road or all terrain vehiclethat is provided with one or more wheel fenders that double as storagecompartments. These storage compartment fenders can be positioned nearthe front wheels, the rear wheels or the front and rear wheels of theall terrain vehicle. Each of these fenders define a hollow volume intowhich a variety of desired items can be placed for storage. In apreferred embodiment, a hinged door provides access to the hollow volumebut shuts tightly to keep out the elements. The hinged door is readilyaccessible by a driver of the ATV while seated on the ATV.Alternatively, the door may be attached to the storage fender in avariety of different ways or the storage fender may have an accessopening lacking any cover or door.

[0015] Preferably, the fender has front and rear panels that areconfigured or adapted to a wheel opening contour. The front and rearpanels are spaced apart to form a volume therebetween. The fender alsohas side panels that are connected to each of the front and rear panelsto form a complete storage compartment.

[0016] The invention is perhaps best understood in conjunction with theFigures. FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an ATV 100, shown in phantom,illustrating the placement of a storage fender 110 in accordance withthe invention. The ATV 100 illustrated is seen as having a dump bin 102in place of its customary rear rack. This is of course a particularembodiment of the invention, but the invention is certainly not limitedto such.

[0017] The storage fender 110 as illustrated has a front panel 114 and arear panel 116. In this, front and rear are arbitrary and do notnecessarily relate to the front and rear of an all terrain vehicle. In apreferred embodiment, the front and rear panels 114, 116 are curved soas to form a contour that permits sufficient clearance between thestorage fender 110 and the wheels 132.

[0018] Alternatively, the front and rear panels 114, 116 can be flat orhave any other geometric shape that provides enough storage space whilemaintaining sufficient wheel clearance, as well as being configured foruse with either a front or rear of an ATV. For example, FIG. 3illustrates an embodiment in which a front wheel storage fender 310 hascurved front and rear panels 314, 316 while FIG. 4 shows a front wheelstorage fender 410 having essentially linear or flat front and rearpanels 414, 416. If the front panel 414 and rear panel 416 areessentially flat, the storage fender 410 can have a top panel 422. Whilea rnnning board on one side of an off-road vehicle can provide a bottomto the storage fender 110, 210, 410, it is preferred that the storagefender employ a bottom panel (not illustrated).

[0019] It is envisioned that an ATV 100 can be equipped with anycombination of the storage fenders 110, 310, 410 described herein. Whilean ATV 100 could have two front storage fenders and two rear storagefenders, it may be necessary to limit the ATV 100 to fewer storagefenders, depending on the space requirements of other accessories. Forexample, it may be necessary to not utilize one or both of the frontstorage fenders if the ATV 100 is equipped with a snowplow that hasoperational levers, etc. extending along one side of the ATV 100.

[0020] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the storage fender 110 has adepression 122 on its upper surface to accommodate the dump bin 102. Ifthe dump bin 102 is not present, the storage fender 110 can besubstantially larger.

[0021] The first and second curved panels 114, 116 are preferablyconnected to first and second side panels 118 and 120 (not visible) toform a storage volume. While the storage fender 110 has been describedherein as being formed from four distinct panels, it is preferred thatthe storage fender 110 be fashioned from a single piece of material.Alternatively, the storage fender 110 can be assembled from any numberof distinct elements. This is a manufacturing decision easily handled byone of ordinary skill in the art.

[0022] Preferably, the storage fender 110 is a unitary molded plasticstructure. A variety of plastics can be used, including polyethylene,polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polypropylene and others. Of course,the storage fender 110 can also be fashioned out of metals such asaluminum or steel or even from wood should this be preferable for aparticular application.

[0023] The storage fender 110 has an internal volume that is limitedonly by the dimensions of the particular ATV to which it is fitted.Preferably, the storage fender 110 has a front to back distance (betweenthe first panel 114 and the rear panel 116) that is at least about 1inch, preferably at least about 2 inches while the side to side distance(between the first and second side panels 118, 120) ranges between 1 and12 inches, depending on the available space at the wheel well.

[0024] As illustrated, the storage fender 110 has a door 116 thatpermits a driver of the ATV to access the interior of the storage fender110. Preferably, the door 116 permits the driver to access the interiorof the storage fender 110 while the driver is seated on the ATV 100.FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment having a door 216 locatedin side panel 118, rather than in curved panel 116. In FIG. 3, a door316 is located near the top of the curved rear panel 318 while in FIG. 4a door 416 is seen located further down in the flat or linear rear panel418. As another alternative, the door 116 can be located within surface122 (or 422) that forms a top of the storage fender 110 (or 410).

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the door 116 is hinged on one end topermit the door to swing open and shut. The door 116 has a handle 113for ease of use, and preferably has a suitable latch mechanism on theinner side (unseen) of the door 116. Alternatively, the door 116 can befree of hinges and instead rely on a friction fit to remain within firstcurved panel 116. While not illustrated in this fashion, the door 116can also be circular and be threaded for connection to a panel.

[0026] The above specification provides an enabling description of themanufacture and use of the invention. Since many embodiments of theinvention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

We claim:
 1. An off-road vehicle fender comprising: front and rearpanels configured to a wheel opening contour, the front and rear panelsspaced apart; and first and second side panels connected to each of thefront and rear panels, the first and second side panels cooperating withthe front and rear panels to form a storage compartment.
 2. The off-roadvehicle fender of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a toppanel and a bottom panel, the at least one of a top panel and a bottompanel cooperating with the front and rear panels and the first andsecond side panels to form the storage compartment.
 3. The off-roadvehicle fender of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front panel andthe rear panel is curved.
 4. The off-road vehicle fender of claim 2,wherein one or more of the front and rear panels, the first and secondside panels and the at least one of a top panel and a bottom panel areformed from individual components.
 5. The off-road vehicle fender ofclaim 4, wherein the individual components are each formed from amaterial selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood andcombinations thereof.
 6. The off-road vehicle fender of claim 1, whereinthe front and rear panels and the first and second side panels areformed within a unitary molded component.
 7. The off-road vehicle fenderof claim 6, wherein the unitary molded component comprises athermoplastic.
 8. The off-road vehicle fender of claim 1, wherein thefront panel and rear panel are spaced sufficiently far apart to providea useful storage compartment.
 9. The off-road vehicle fender of claim 8,wherein the front panel and rear panel are spaced at least about oneinch apart.
 10. The off-road vehicle fender of claim 1, wherein thefender is adapted for use as a rear wheel fender.
 11. The off-roadvehicle fender of claim 1, wherein the fender is adapted for use as afront wheel fender.
 12. The off-road vehicle fender of claim 2, furthercomprising an access opening positioned within a panel selected from thegroup consisting of the front panel, the rear panel, the first sidepanel, the second side panel and the at least one of a top panel and abottom panel.
 13. The off-road vehicle fender of claim 11, furthercomprising an access door configured and positioned to releasably closethe access opening.
 14. The off-road vehicle fender of claim 13, whereinthe door is hingedly attached to the panel bearing the access opening.15. The off-road vehicle fender of claim 13, wherein the door isconfigured to snap into the access opening.
 16. The off-road vehiclefender of claim 13, wherein the access hole is configured to accept adoor configured to screw into the access hole.
 17. An off-road vehiclecomprising one or more of the fender of claim 1.